Daily Reading Passages

Click below for access to the passages. Biblegateway.com is an excellent site with many versions of the Bible. The link below opens in NIV.  Youversion.com is a new site that allows you to annotate your own Bible, make notes, and comments once you create an account. That link opens in the TNIV version. Other versions are available at both sites.

Coaching Comments

The Old Testament reading for today is Numbers 28:16 - 29:40. Starting with the last few verses of yesterday's reading, this passage summarizes and reiterates all the special religious holidays that God established for the Israelites. Now, to us it seems a bit redundant since we read some very similar stuff a few weeks ago. But remember, nearly forty years has passed since these were first instituted. We have a whole new generation of people now, and with God about to lead them into the promised land, it was a natural time to refresh everyone on the particulars of their new culture. Remember as we come across stuff like this that seems to be a repeat -- all of these things were meant to keep the Israelites set apart from the pagan inhabitants of the land.

Luke 3:23-38 is the New Testament reading for today. This reading has two things. It says that Jesus was thirty years old when He began His public ministry. The rest is the genealogy of Jesus, back to the creation of humanity, figured through his adoptive paternal lineage. As you skim the passage, you'll start seeing familiar names that we've come across in our Old Testament readings: Adam, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah (one of the twelve sons of Israel). You'll also note some famous names that we have yet to come to in the Old Testament: Boaz (the one who married Ruth), David (the king), and Zerubbabel (involved in the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the exile). I've pointed out a number of times in the Old Testament reading that in many ways the Bible is the story of one particular family tree. Even Jesus is a part of this. God has been working toward Jesus since the beginning of time.

The Psalm reading today, Psalms 62:1-12, is a beautiful and profound statement about God's priority in our lives, and the fact that rich, or poor, we are all dependent on Him. Twice in the Psalm the writer speaks to his own soul, reminding himself to find rest in God alone. It's almost like the chorus of the song. Even when enemies attack, even when circumstances are difficult, even with the realization of the smallness of the human life. In the face of everything, find rest only in God. Even if you grow wealthy (v. 10), don't look to your wealth for security or comfort. It all lasts but a moment. The only thing steadfast is God.

The Proverbs reading today is Proverbs 11:18-19. Again we see contrasted the wicked and the righteous person. The wicked person may grow wealthy, and think they are secure. But those wages are deceptive. They can vanish in a moment. But the return on righteousness is eternal.

2007 Cohort Comments